Bette was getting uncomfortable with the silence. “You haven’t thought about it, have you?”

“No, I can’t say that I have,” Barbara cast her gaze away.

“I’m not pressuring you to come out,” she began slowly.

The senator turned and watched Bette. “I know you’re not. It’s a good thing you brought it up, because it will definitely come up, and soon.”

“Yeah,” Bette sighed, moving away from their embrace. “Don’t rush yourself, Barbara. What was it you said? ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ I’ll be right here.”

“What if I said it’s nobody’s business but our own? What if I said I’m going to neither confirm nor deny it? Can you live with that?” Barbara’s face flustered. “Can you respect my decision?”

She took her time to think it over, even though logically it was a sound decision. The questions brought her back to the day she came out to her family. She had sat down with her father one day, discussing art previously when she broke the news to him. All Melvin said to her was to exercise discretion.

Bette thought of her father’s advice. While they live in West Hollywood, Barbara still was high profile enough to attract national attention. The mayor’s party was a mere indication of that.

“On some levels, I do understand.”

“I hear a but coming on,” Barbara said.

“But it’s hard for me to hide who I am,” Bette admitted. “I’ve never needed to do that.”

“I’m not asking you to go back into the closet, Bette,” came Barbara’s frustrated reply. “All I’m saying is we’ll have to be careful while in public.”

She stayed silent, turning over the words in her mind. It wasn’t an off-the-top request, just different. “You and me together, right?”

“As long as you’ll have me,” the senator promised, sighing in relief.

Instead of replying, Bette leaned in slowly and placed a chaste kiss on Barbara’s lips. Sensing no resistance, she deepened the kiss, gently prying lips apart. She teased Barbara with her tongue, enjoying the soft moan the senator elicited. With a final nibble on a lower lip, Bette regrettably broke the kiss.